Daylon Houston, who will be a freshman at Coupeville High School in the fall, plans to play soccer, football, and possibly basketball. (Photo courtesy Houston)
Daylon Houston doesn’t hesitate.
While he plans to play two, and possibly three, sports next year as a freshman at Coupeville High School, the lure of the pitch is something he embraces.
“Soccer is my life, soccer has always been my first choice,” Houston said. “It gives me the rush of being in nonstop play; the constant movement and aggression is awesome, and it motivates me to push myself.”
Daylon plans to join older brother Dawson, Coupeville’s starting quarterback, on the Wolf football team this fall.
After that, he may lace up his shoes with the basketball program, as well.
But when next spring rolls around, Houston is most looking forward to keeping his run as a soccer player going strong.
A veteran of four seasons of select soccer, the sport has helped him grow through elementary and middle school years.
“Being an athlete helps me stay on track; it’s a big part of me,” Houston said. “I enjoy being an athlete because when I’m out of sports I have no guidance, but in sports I have a strong sense of guidance.”
He’s looking to make an immediate impact for the Wolves on the soccer pitch, and is confident in his ever-growing skill-set.
“I have a high enough skill level to be a starting freshman on our varsity soccer team,” Houston said with conviction. “My goals are to go out on the field and push myself.”
The young booter credits the many coaches he’s worked with for helping support and guide him.
“When I was about eight, I had a soccer coach named Miguel, and he has helped me because I was going into that season saying I wanted to quit due to a bad coach from before,” Houston said. “But he guided me through a great season and put my soccer life back on track.
“Also, my current coach, Ben, who has led me and taught me the deeper concepts of the game of soccer.”
Along with his coaches, Houston praises his mom, Alia, for being the ultimate sounding board and support crew.
“She told me I should try out for select and so I did,” he said. “She helped me enter select and she was there every step of the way.
“These three people (my mom and coaches) all play a crucial role in making me the player I am today,” Houston added. “Without any of them, I probably wouldn’t be playing soccer to this day.”
When he’s not on the pitch, Houston enjoys working out, listening to music and spending time with his dog.
But, like his older brother, who will be heading into his senior season, he comes alive when playing sports.
“My strength as an athlete is that I never give up,” Houston said. “Even in the hardest of times I keep pushing myself.
“I can be in the last game of a season with absolutely no wins and go out there and give it my all,” he added. “The only thing I can think of to improve is be a part of a team and build strong chemistry with my teammates.”
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